Eating, Sleep, Attitudes, and Stress Risk in Physical Therapy Students (EHSAR-S)

Eating Habits, Sleep Patterns, Attitudes, and Risk of Stress Among Physical Therapy Students

The goal of this observational study is to assess how eating attitudes, sleep attitudes, and perceived stress contribute to early indicators of cardiovascular risk among undergraduate physical therapy students aged 18-30. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Do unhealthy eating attitudes correlate with increased perceived stress levels? Does poor sleep quality predict higher behavioral risk for cardiovascular disease?

Participants will complete validated self-reported questionnaires, including:

The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

Data will be collected once, either electronically or on paper, and all responses will be coded anonymously. There is no intervention or comparison group, as the study is purely observational.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Lifestyle Risk Reduction; Perceived Stress; Eating Attitudes
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: complete validated questionnaires

Detailed Description

This observational study explores how lifestyle-related psychological factors-including eating attitudes, sleep attitudes, and perceived stress-interrelate and contribute to early behavioral indicators of cardiovascular risk among undergraduate physical therapy students. The study focuses on a population frequently exposed to academic pressure, irregular schedules, and altered lifestyle habits, which may predispose them to long-term health risks.

Participants will complete three standardized self-report instruments: the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). These tools were selected for their established validity in assessing eating behaviors, sleep quality, and stress perception in young adult populations. Scores from each measure will be analyzed to determine correlations among the variables and their combined ability to predict early cardiovascular risk patterns.

Data collection occurs once for each participant, with no intervention or follow-up required. Responses will remain anonymous, and no clinical procedures, biological samples, or physical assessments will be conducted. The study aims to generate foundational evidence that may inform future preventive strategies and wellness programs targeted at university students, particularly those in health-related fields.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 138

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Giza, Egypt
    • EG Physio

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of undergraduate physical therapy students aged 18-30 years from various universities. This group represents a young adult population frequently exposed to high academic demands, lifestyle irregularities, and stress-related behaviors that may influence eating patterns, sleep quality, and early cardiovascular risk. Participants are generally healthy with no reported cardiovascular, metabolic, or psychiatric conditions.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-30 years.
• Enrolled as an undergraduate Physical Therapy student.
• Able and willing to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of cardiovascular, metabolic, or psychiatric disorders.
• Current use of medications that affect appetite, sleep, or mood.
• Incomplete or inconsistent responses to the study questionnaires.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Eating Attitudes Score (EAT-26)	Total score on the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) used to assess disordered eating patterns and attitudes toward food. The total score ranges from 0 to 78, with higher scores indicating a greater risk of unhealthy eating behaviors.	1 month, collected at baseline
Sleep Quality Score (PSQI)	Global score from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) evaluating sleep quality and sleep disturbances. The global score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality.	1 month, collected at baseline
Perceived Stress Level (PSS-10)	Total score on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), measuring the degree to which participants perceive their lives as stressful. The total score ranges from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress.	1 month, collected at baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cairo University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 10, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): March 9, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 11, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 11, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 24, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 9, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Sleep Quality; Cardiovascular Risk; Psychological Factors; Eating Attitudes; Lifestyle Behaviors; Health Risk Prediction
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Sleep Wake Disorders; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Behavior; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Risk Reduction Behavior
• Other Study ID Numbers: EGPHYSIO-SC-002

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No